Fixed Service Group Opposes Proposal for High-Altitude Communications Platforms

a modification of Parts 2 and 101 of FCC rules to allow the first launch of SBSC in the U.S. “SBCS is a transformative new service based on advanced, cutting edge technologies,” Elefante said. “Through this Petition, the Commission is offered the opportunity to enable U.S. leadership in both 5G deployment and technological innovation in the form of commercial stratospheric communications platforms and services.” Lockheed Martin is also behind the proposal. Elefante asked that SBCS be given co-primary access as a fixed service in the 21.5-23.6, 25.25-27.5, 71-76 and 81-86 GHz bands. Potential uses include 4G and 5G backhaul and residential broadband, the company said. “We admire the vision behind the … proposal,” the FWCC said. “Nevertheless, Elefante Group has underestimated the adverse impact of its proposal on the Fixed Service. It may be possible to modify the proposal in ways that preserve the vision, but also maintain the regulatory parity with the FS that Elefante Group claims, but has not yet achieved.” FS operators don’t object to sharing spectrum through frequency coordination, the coalition said: “But Elefante Group is asking for far-reaching exceptions to the frequency coordination procedures.” The National Radio Astronomy Observatory also objected, saying its observatories would be “profoundly affected” by the operation of high altitude platform systems (HAPS) like those proposed by Elefante. “Elefante Group’s version of HAPS is still HAPS,” NARO said.